Traders cater to growing online demand

The Alice Springs Chamber of Commerce says many local retailers are making the move online to remain competitive.

A number of central Australian retailers say they have filled an increasing number of online orders for gifts this Christmas and expect it to become more popular.

The chamber's Kay Eade is encouraging businesses to keep up with the times.

"A lot of people in town are very busy people, as you can appreciate, and they just don't get the time. So it's just something, an extra thing that I think retailers and shops and services here need to start thinking about if they haven't already gone down that road," she said.

Retailers and the chamber of commerce are reporting strong pre-Christmas trading, despite the annual exodus of thousands of people over the festive season.

Deb Smith from Leaping Lizards Gallery in Todd Mall says there is a growing trend for people to buy something with a central Australian flavour for their friends and family.

"Rather than waiting til they get to their destination and then choosing something ... so it's great to see that we here in central Australia have something that we're proud of to take around the rest of Australia with us," she said.